Congregation at Prayer The Word Became Flesh Responsive Prayer 2, Lutheran Service Book p.285 T T Pentecost 25 A Guide for Daily Family Prayer Learn-By-Heart Scripture… John 1:14 For the Week of November 11th to 17th “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Catechesis Notes for the Week… Learn-By-Heart Catechism… The Creed All three persons of the Trinity work together in creation. The Spirit What is the Second Article? hovers over the waters, the Father speaks, and the Son, who is the And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy eternal Word, is what is spoken. Ever since the very beginning, God Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, has desired to be known by His Word. died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father This Word of God that brought all things into being, and which was Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. spoken among His people by the prophets, this Word is the second What does this mean? person of the Holy Trinity—the Word is God Himself. God is never I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and apart from His Word. In the Old Testament, for example, you only also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, know what God thinks or means by what the prophet says. It’s only by who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me the Word of God that anything can be sure or certain. from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and The Evangelist St. John tells us that this eternal Word of God became death, flesh. That is, He took on what you and I have. He became embodied that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in (or if you want to say it more elegantly, He became incarnate). That’s everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from who this Jesus is—the Word of God in human form. the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. But that’s not good news in itself. It’s amazing that God would take Daily Readings… flesh and blood, but it matters more what He does with that flesh and Monday (11/11): Jeremiah 23:21-40; Matthew 25:31-46 blood. And one thing flesh and blood is known most for, is suffering Tuesday (11/12): Jeremiah 25:1-18; Matthew 26:1-19 and dying. That’s been pretty consistent ever since Adam and Eve. Wednesday (11/13): Jeremiah 26:1-19; Matthew 26:20-35 Thursday (11/14): Jeremiah 29:1-19; Matthew 26:36-56 So here we have God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, the Friday (11/15): Jeremiah 30:1-24; Matthew 26:57-75 eternal Word, who now has flesh and blood like us, and John says that Saturday (11/16): Jeremiah 31:1-34; Matthew 27:1-10 He dwelt among us. That is, He didn’t take on flesh and blood to stand Sunday (11/17): Jeremiah 33:1-22; Matthew 27:11-32 apart from us, or over us, or against us—but to be among us, with us. Prayer of the Week… This God-with-us (Immanuel), John says, is full of grace and truth. Living God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy Looking at His grace and truth we see His glory. Now, you’d need to and pity. Grant us the fullness of Your grace to lay hold of Your promises and look over the rest of John’s Gospel to check this out, but John tends to live forever in Your presence; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who locate the Glory of Christ most clearly on the cross. That also happens lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. to be where Pilate first asks, “What is truth?” And it’s on that cross Psalm of the Week… Psalm 115 that the grace of God is seen most clearly, where the flesh and blood Hymn of the Week… “From God Can Nothing Move Me” 713 Jesus gives His life as a ransom for the sins of the world! Looking Forward to Next Week… All of this is confessed when we say that He has redeemed me, a lost Malachi 4:1-6 2 Thessalonians 3:1-13 Luke 21:5-36 and condemned person. He did it all for us—praise be to God! .